Welcome to the many new subscribers to the Stonewylde
newsletter, and hello again to all my loyal readers and supporters
who’ve been around for a while. The seven weeks since Beltane
have flown by and it’s been so very busy.
The podcast interview I did for Damh the Bard at the end of April,
which went out to Druids all over the world, brought many new
people to Stonewylde. I was also invited to be a guest blogger on
Philip Carr-Gomm’s blog whilst he was touring in Europe, and you
can read my contribution here>>. Philip is the current chief of the
Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids and has just had another book
published which looks very exciting indeed: The Book of English
Magic. Mr B and I are attending the book launch in London next
week and are looking forward to meeting Philip. Details of this
book are here>>.
Our trip to the Netherlands to speak at the Dutch Pagan Federation
conference was absolutely brilliant. We were made very welcome
by two special Stonewylde readers, Ebany and Sorcha, who really
looked after us. Unfortunately we sold out of all the copies of
Stonewylde very quickly, then the greetings cards and finally the T-
shirts! We could’ve sold twice as many books if we’d had them
there. My talk about Stonewylde went down well to a packed
room, and I was honoured to take part in the opening and closing
ceremonies of the conference. Many thanks to Lady Bara for
inviting me, and Ebany and Sorcha for their care, kindness and
hospitality.
I had great fun up in Lincoln doing a talk and book-signing at a
huge BSSK Mind Body Spirit festival. The best part was being
greeted by four wonderful Stonewylde readers all wearing their
special Green Man T-shirts! They were great and persuaded many
casual browsers to buy the books. I am so lucky to have such
loyal support.
The beginning of June saw a trip to the Wessex Folk Festival in
Weymouth, where I joined Simon Costin at his amazing travelling
Museum of British Folklore. Simon is a man on a mission, working
to raise funds and interest in building a permanent museum to
celebrate our cultural heritage. In the meantime he’s touring
festivals around the British Isles with a gorgeously exotic caravan
and some very interesting exhibits including a mummified cat! We
sold many copies of Stonewylde and had a wonderful time
watching the traditionlal dancing and listening to the beautiful folk
music. If anyone has any old items that Simon could use in his
museum, or would just like to find out more, click here>>.
Dates for your diary ...
Next weekend - Sat and Sun 27th and 28th June
Buxton Health and Healing Festival, Buxton, Derbyshire
Kit will be giving free talks on both days of this lovely festival and
signing books at the Magik Thread book stall. Come and meet Kit
and Mr B - and wear your Stonewylde T-shirt! Click here>>.
Saturday July 4th - Quest at Newton Abbot, Devon
Kit will be arriving at this lovely event around noon and will spend
the afternoon with Bob Broadway, signing copies of Stonewylde
and chatting with fans. Bob is organising a presentation about
authors and Kit will be featured. Do come along if you’re near
Devon as this is a great MBS festival. Details here>>.
Sunday July 12th - Leeds Mind Body Spirit Festival
This will be Kit’s first ever visit to Leeds, and she’s delighted to be
giving a free talk and signing books with Magik Thread again. Click
Sunday July 19th - Race for Life!
You may remember that Kit lost her best friend to cancer back in
March of this year. Kit is running 5Km in the Race for Life to raise
money for cancer research. Statistically most of us will be affected
by this dreadful disease, either personally or through someone we
love. “Together we’ll beat cancer” is the motto - please sponsor Kit
even if only for a small amount. Many heartfelt thanks to all who’ve
already sponsored her.
Sat and Sun July 24th and 25th
Port Eliot Literary Festival, St Germans, Cornwall.
A truly exciting event and Kit’s first appearance as a speaker at a
literary festival! Set in the amazing stately home of the Earl of St
Germans, this is a lit fest with a difference. There’ll be razzamatazz
and glitz as well as deep and interesting talks. Come and see Kit
dressed as the Corn Mother, and meet Simon Costin too with his
lovely travelling museum! Kit’s talk has yet to be scheduled so do
check on the News and Events page of the website nearer the
Sat August 1st - Lammas Day! Ley Line Day at Avebury.
This is a guided walk around the Sacred Landscape of Avebury,
Old Sarum and Stonehenge. Kit and Mr B hope to be joining David
Rowan on one of his brilliant free days out, walking around the
sacred landscape of Wiltshire, enjoying a picnic and mixing with
other like-minded folk. Full details can be found on David’s
website>>, and although free, David will need to know who’s
coming.
Breaking Stonewylde
news ...
As you know from the last newsletter,
Shadows at Stonewylde has been written
but will not be going to print for some time
yet. However the latest news from
Moongazy Publishing is that the first three
books in the series are to be rebranded with
new cover designs. We loved the old
designs when they were first done and they
seemed right at the time, but now we need a
new feel to the series. Readership of
Stonewylde is really wide and the books
appeal to an incredibly broad range of
people. We need covers that reflect this
diversity of readership. Watch this space for
the exciting new jackets, hopefully to be
designed again by our lovely Rob Walster of
Big Blu Design in Bristol.
I’m now on Twitter so if you’re a fellow
tweeter and would like to follow me, you
know what to do!
“Bright blessings
to all
Stonewylde readers
at the
Summer Solstice!”
What’s been going on ...
SUMMER SOLSTICE
(Northern Hemisphere)
The Summer Solstice, an ancient fire festival is perhaps
the one most publicised today, with high exposure in the
media of celebrations at Stonehenge and other sacred
sites throughout the country. It also requires some
commitment to be up to greet the rising sun!
If you haven't yet risen in the strange
half-light of predawn and sat patiently
waiting for the first glimpse of the
sun, I recommend it. It's great to be
part of a large gathering, but
personally I find it most spiritual
alone, tuning myself into the rhythm
of the earth, imagining the planet at its utmost tilt towards
the sun. I always feel very in harmony with our ancestors
who did exactly the same thing for so many centuries.
The same is true of the Solstice sunset, many hours later.
And there's a certain sadness in knowing that the days
will now be getting shorter again.
The symbol of the Summer
Solstice at Stonewylde is the
oak leaf, as folk lore tells us
that this was the festival of the
Oak King. There was perennial
conflict between the Oak King
and the Holly King, one
superceding the other at each
solstice.
At Stonewylde this is the time of the Midsummer holiday,
when all the hard-working Villagers get a chance to relax
and enjoy themselves. There are many organised sports
and games, and picnics all around the estate of
Stonewylde. Visiting Hallfolk swell the numbers and of
course expect to be waited on hand and foot.
Hay has been harvested and the other cereal crops are
now growing well in the fields, ripening towards the
beginning of August when the folk of Stonewylde will be
celebrating Lammas.
CELEBRATING THE
SOLSTICE
Many Stonewylde readers are pagans and celebrate
the ancient festivals in the Wheel of the Year. If
you’re new to all this, you may like to mark this
special time of year in a simple yet satisfying way.
Set your alarm clock and get up very early. Summer
Solstice falls on a Sunday this year so at least you
may be lucky enought to go back to bed afterwards!
It gets light long before sunrise, but wrap up warmly.
Watch the sun rise (or the light brighten if it’s cloudy)
from a special spot such as a hilltop if you can, but if
not, a garden or park is still lovely.
As the sun
rises, reflect
on the
knowledge
that you are
doing what
our
ancestors did for millenia. Just sitting patiently
waiting for the first rays of the sun. Focus on the
Earth and her beauty, and the eternity of the
changing seasons and spinning of our planet through
space and time. A flask of hot drink and a bite to eat
can be very welcome, both as fruits of the earth to
savour, and to warm you up after a chilly start. Take
something to sit on too unless you want a dew-damp
bottom!
Why not make a little Summer Solstice table or altar,
if you don’t already do so. Decorate with a bright
cloth and some candles, and remember this is a fire
festival and a day of sunshine and summer. Orange,
yellow and gold are good colours for your table and
flowers, and at Stonewylde the oak leaf is symbol of
the Summer Solstice.
If you can, watch the sun set after 9pm in the
evening, maybe from the same place you watched it
rise if it’s visible from there. Reflect on the fact that
from now on, nights will be getting longer and the
days shorter until the Winter Solstice.
